Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-10-11
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Meth ,ds OF Teaching That Miit Seem
Funny TO rnpils OF TO-Dny.


Meth IDS OF Teaching That w,n Seem
Funny to Pupil. OF To-Day.
In those days the first exercise was
reading two verses from the Testament
by the Older pupils. who had back seats
while the small children were nearest
the fire. After the reading il the
teacher was man of prayer he offered
Que. This was done while the little
ones were roasting before the fire
Then began the exercises in Webstcr's
spelling book. the teacher in winter
pointing to the letters with u pcnknife.
and in summer with the point Of his
scissors, MS they were more or less in
use.
Thumps were generally on the head,
with thmble on the teachers finger,
il fcmnle Then came the study of
Alb, ab. lhen reading was begun with
the maxim. "L't no man put of the
law Of God. ." Then rs tho reader pro-
crossed cnmo the stories in Wobster's
spelling book of the unfortunate and
silly dairy maid who, with her milk
pail on head. calculated how many eggs
she would sell It for and what II fine
dres. she would buy, until, tossing her
head with these prideful reflections.
town camo the milkpail to the ground
and with it all her sweet hopes.
Then there was the moral story about
the boys stealing apples. The farmer
first tried to stop them by throwing
tufts Of grass, but finding them of no
/ effect he threw stones, which were more
eftectual The American Prneeptor
succeeded that book. The children
we're given recess, though ii was not
known by that name. The boys went
/ iirst by themselves. aud afterwards the
/ sirlS. At recess the teacher mended
| 'ho gooSe-quill pens, the quilts being
| licked up ofteutimes while the children
| we're on the way to school They would
| ne damp, and a split could not well be
| made to form the two nibs. II there
we're girls who could not learn the
"rulp Of three the teacher explained
It during he recess. shortly came n
! \ rap on the window to call in all the
children. After geography followed a
lesson in grammar forty minutes long,
which none of the children understood,
but most of them hated Ruled paper
was not known. The father bought a
few sheets Of paper which were stitched
At home. 1t was of all qualities The
teacher had to rule the lines aud keep
busy mending the pens The ink was
home made
Later ON came the Columbian Orator
and English Reader filled with solid
natter, not suited to the wants of the
learner. Children of sixteen. or about
hat age got 10 read very well. tho
look passing from class TO class. The
girls were generally the best readers
There We're ~ regular classes in arith
metic, bat the book were DIbolrs ant
Pixies arithmetics. No lessons wer,
given out. but pupil would get on a
he could. The teacher. If he could
would work out "sum." He had ,
book with the problems worked out
When a pupil WAS troubled he woul,
copy it into similar book in his desk
and this satisfied both teacher an,
pupil. But the happiest exercise wa
ut the end of the week; reciting from
the commandments and the catechisn
and the tables of weights and measures
The books of the Old Testament had L
be recited in order -NeW London Ddy
-
An epltuary notice the other da,
accorded death from failure of tn
lhearL"